“Three men have gone north toward Luton,” reported the man. “One of them will make for Meryton according to the colonel’s instructions, and the others will continue north. Several others made for Stevenage.”
“Good,” said Darcy. “Follow along behind as we travel. We should reach Meryton in about ninety minutes.”
“Very good sir,” said the footman.
“I suppose we should rejoin the old bat,” said Fitzwilliam, “for she will berate us soon if we do not.”
There were few things that Bingley wished to do less than return to the cramped confines of the carriage with a bitter virago. He went along willingly, knowing that she would be asleep again before long, and each mile was taking them closer to his reunion with Miss Bennet.
As Darcy might have predicted, Lady Catherine wasted no timein demanding an account of what they had found when they entered the coach. They had not even found their seats or closed the door before she opened her mouth.
“Well? Where is Anne? Have you found where she has gone?”
“We have word of their passage,” said Fitzwilliam, as Darcy closed the door, allowing the carriage to be off.
“And?” demanded Lady Catherine.
“It appears we have the scent of our quarry, for they passed this way earlier this afternoon. The woman in the carriage was most definitely Anne. The description of the man with her matches that of one George Wickham.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes burned icy fire as she turned to Darcy. “This time, that miserable cur will not escape our wrath, Darcy,” spat she. “You should have dealt with him years ago. Now he has run off with your betrothed, and I mean to see him in hell.”
“Trust me, Aunt,” said Darcy, ignoring her comment about Anne’s status, “I will no longer allow Wickham to do as he will.”
Though Aunt Catherine watched him for a long moment, she finally gave a regal nod and returned her attention to Fitzwilliam. “Then where are we bound for now?”
“The road north to Luton,” said Fitzwilliam. “Meryton is near enough to the road that it will not be a significant delay to go there. As we have some confirmation Anne’s companyisWickham, it is greater proof that he means to go there.”
“Very well,” said Lady Catherine, appearing to think she was being magnanimous. “Your assertions regarding the identity of Mr. Wickham have proven correct, so we will do it your way.
“Now, Darcy,” continued she, “we must speak of what we will do when we retrieve Anne, for we must be swift to ensure there is no damage to her reputation. When we have her, we will return to London and your house at once, and there we will draft an announcement to the papers for your approaching nuptials. You may marry by license, and it must be soon. A common licensewould do, but a special license would be better. I shall speak to my brother about procuring one.”
On and on Lady Catherine droned, instructing Darcy on how it would be when they arrived in London, planning every aspect of his life without even asking his opinion. If it were not so like Lady Catherine, Darcy might have thought to take offense. As it was, the lady had the bit in her mouth and was not about to be moved from her course. There would be time enough to correct her when this business was complete.
Seated by her side, Fitzwilliam listened to Lady Catherine’s indefatigable conversation with as little amusement as Darcy did himself. Once, however, when he saw Darcy looking at her with annoyance, he caught Darcy’s eye and gave his head a minute shake. Darcy had not considered responding to her, but he was curious about what Fitzwilliam meant by it. In time, nature took its course and even Lady Catherine’s need to pontificate could not overcome the soporific effects of the carriage. It was half an hour longer than Darcy expected, but soon she replaced speaking with snoring, leaving three men relieved by her unconsciousness.
“I must hand it to you both,” said Bingley, “for you endure her ways rather well. Even Caroline—even my aunt Beatrice, who can go on for hours when the mood strikes her—are not so inexorable as your excellent aunt.”
“Inexorable, yes,” said Fitzwilliam. “Excellence is another matter entirely.”
Amusing though the quip was, none of them laughed at it, for it was all too apropos. To think they must endure her for several more days in the cramped carriage if they did not catch Wickham before. Darcy did not know how they would avoid her driving them to distraction.
“What did you mean by warning me to silence?” asked Darcy.
“It appeared you were about to put her in her place,” repliedFitzwilliam. “As I prefer to avoid the ringing in my ears that would result from Lady Catherine’s shrieks at your defiance, I acted to prevent you.”
Bingley snorted, but Darcy only shook his head. “I had no thought of doing so, for I am as well acquainted with her and my need to preserve my hearing is as acute as yours. You had some other reason to wish me to remain silent.”
Fitzwilliam shrugged. “It does little good to argue with her. Should the worst come to pass, and we must save Anne’s reputation by marrying her off, I shall be the one to sacrifice myself.”
“You wish to marry Anne?” asked Darcy with a frown.
“Anne is not diseased, Darcy,” reproved Fitzwilliam.
“Of course, she is not,” retorted Darcy. “Anne is my cousin and I hold her in the highest affection. And this is despite my difficulty speaking to her when Lady Catherine sees everything I say as tantamount to an offer of marriage. I am only asking after your meaning.”
“Very well,” replied Fitzwilliam. “I thought it was clear, but I shall tell you. You, Darcy, have no wish to marry Anne, and she has no wish to marry you. You have a lady love you still need to convince to take you on, and you do not need the question of Lady Catherine’s assertions to drag you down.
“I, on the other hand, do not possess your advantage of wealth and must marry with the position and wealth of the woman in mind, or else I lose my lifestyle. I am fond of Anne, and I think she is of me. This business of Lady Catherine pushing her on you is nonsense, as I am the more logical one to marry her if she must marry in the family.”
